Citizens' Budget Committee discussion Monday

The Ashland Citizens' Budget Committee will hear details about the city's proposed 2011-12 budget at 6 p.m. Monday, April 18, in the Ashland Civic Center Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main St.

The Ashland Citizens' Budget Committee will hear details about the city's proposed 2011-12 budget at 6 p.m. Monday, April 18, in the Ashland Civic Center Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main St.

City managers are proposing several fee increases to help balance the budget, including a 6 percent increase in electricity, a 6 percent increase in water fees, a 4 percent increase in sewer fees and small increases in transportation and stormwater fees. Those would come on top of a 10 percent water fee increase and a 6 percent sewer bill increase already approved by the City Council.

The $94 million budget is about 5 percent bigger than last year, in part because it includes $1.5 million in federal funds for thinning in Ashland's watershed.